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It is no doubt that one (1) of the core problems in running an online retail business is getting customers to purchase your products. This has led many online businesses to abandon the race, or even sell their products at very high discounts just to clear the stock.
Where do you get customers for your products ? and How do you get them to actually purchase your products? are two (2) different questions.
In this blog post, we will be exploring various ways through which, one could easily find potential customers for their products.
Where do you get your customers from ?
Customers are all around you, everywhere you go! But who are they or who should they be?
1. Determine your market
Depending on the type of products you sell, you should take a little time to determine your market, meaning the people whom your products are meant for. Are your products for men only? for women? for children? for students? for mothers? for families? for working class women? for everyone? etc....
Ask yourself these questions and put down your answers. Please do so before reading the next point.
You must know exactly the type or group of people, your products are targeted at.
2. Where can you find your target market?
Finding your target market shouldn't be an issue, if you know exactly who you are looking for.
Billions of people connect online, each and every day. Unless of course, your product is only targeted at a particular group of people in a specific location, then you may not have to go online. If location isn't an issue, then the whole world is yours (don't be scared to think big).
Now where to reach your targeted market?
a. Your surroundings
Let's start from here. Before running online, how many people in your area know about your products? You don't have to be shy to talk to people about what you sell. Get out of your room and let your neighborhood be aware of the products you are offering them. Get their contacts details. Talk to your friends, let them talk to their friends, and so on. Your siblings and cousins, let them share the news on your behalf. Your colleagues at work, at church, etc......
b. Your contacts list - What's App contact list
If you are reading this post on your phone, then you definitely have an android phone or an iphone; which means, you have a long list of contacts registered on your google account or your phone memory itself. You may probably have not less than 100 contacts on your list, and those may be your potential customers. Get in touch with them.
If you are using the What's App application, it makes it even better. Best to use What's App Business. How can you reach your contacts using What's App Business?
* Create a broadcast list: With the broadcast list you can reach up to 250 contacts at the same time. You can post pictures and details of your products on your broadcast list and all the contacts on that list will receive them individually.
* Create a What's App Group: You can invite your contacts in joining your group, where you will be updating them on your products details, posting reviews, and new stock. Don't just create a group and add everyone in it, it may be frustrating to many. It's best to invite those who have already purchased from you. You can have a collective chat with members of your group, to discuss more about your products, reviews and how best you can improve on your products and services.
c. Facebook groups & pages
Depending on your target market, there are various groups and marketplaces you can join and showcase your products on. Target groups with high number of members. You can also like pages, especially gossip pages, that attract a lot of readers and allow their members to post their products from time to time.
For example, if you are targeting women in general, you should join groups and like pages, that have to do with women and their issues in general (issues that your products may solve).
d. Institutions & Companies
Institutions, companies, offices, schools are also places where you can get enough customers. Depending on the products you sell, there are a lot of offices and other places, you can visits, and offer your products and services.
For example: banks, schools, restaurants, hospitals, supermarkets, etc.......
Think deeply on such places, write them down, and plan your visits.
e. Online marketing
Another way to get more customers is to run online ads, of course you will have to spend some money here.
If you have an online presence (Instagram page, Facebook page, TikTok page), you can opt for running an online ad, for a specific number of days. Online ads, give your page more visibility to your target market.
When setting an online ad, you will set your target market (age, location, gender), duration and the amount.
Using TikTok, can also help you reach a good number of people. But with TikTok, you will have to do more videos. Videos of your products, the specific details, the benefits, what make your products stand. With TikTok, you may not have to run an ad, if you are consistent with your content creation.
f. Tradional marketing
Traditional marketing is another way of getting customers, but may be expensive in certain cases. Nevertheless let's me put down some affordable ways, through which you can get customers.
* Taking part in Trade shows & Exhibition
You can register for fair exhibition shows, where you will have the opportunity to showcase your products to all customers attending the program, and also get to interact with them. To know the various trade shows exhibitions which have been scheduled in Ghana, or in your location, you need to search online (google). There are also radio stations, which organize trade shows exhibitions from time to time, such as 3Fm, CitiFm, JoyFm, and others. Follow them and get more info on such programs.
This is best for locally made products.
* Showcase your products at Supermarkets & other retail places
If you are into foods, drinks and other products which you believe may do well at certain retail outlets, then you should try listing them in those store. Some stores provide that option, especially for foods, drinks, and other consumable products.
You can send them a proposal to list your products in their outlets, if you successfully go through, you will have the opportunity to supply those retail outlets with your products. It can be with outlets like Melcom, Shoprite, Palace, Maxmart and Marina. Product listing is mostly for free in these outlets, but you will need to have all the necessary documentation ( Business Registration, VAT, FDA in some cases)
* Create a space to showcase your products
In 2021, our online store was struggling in making sales, so we tried a traditional approach. We rented two (2) big tables and one (1) big umbrella, made a set up just in front of our office and displayed the items we wanted to put out for sales (discounted). Played music which of course attracted the attention of people passing by. We did that for one (1) week, and that was the best sales period for us.
Not only did we sell more than what was expected, people actually got to know more about us as an online store.
This is something fun you can try. Organize your friends or family and run a mini exhibition in front of your house, or somewhere in your area. You might be surprised with the number of people you will sell to.
* Design & distribute product flyers
Sharing of flyers, may be another good way to reach a good number of people in a particular location, with your products and services. Old ways but still works.
If you have the means, print enough flyers, detailing everything about your products and how people can order. You can print close to 1000 small flyers, which you can distribute on busy streets, bus stations and markets. Get your close friends involved and let them help you.
Showcasing your products to enough people will mostly depend on your creativity, but here I have shared with you various ways, through which you can reach enough customers for your business.
For your business to stand, you have to be all out. Every and any occasion you get, to show or tell someone about your products, please do so without holding back.
Now how to get these customers to actually purchase your products is another different topic, that will be discuss in our next blog post.
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